Enhanced Tribological Properties of Electrodeposited Fe–W Alloy Coatings through Carburization

Abstract

Carburization is a promising surface-hardening approach to maximize the tribological and mechanical properties of metals and alloys by making thin-layer surface carbides. The current study investigates the effect of carburizing on the electrodeposited Fe−W alloy coating. This process involeves the thermal decomposition of ethanol in an argon (Ar) atmosphere at varying temperatures. The amorphous electrodeposits of Fe−W alloy coating formed at optimized current density (500 A/cm 2 ) are transformed to the uniform W-rich reinforced bimetallic carbide (Fe 3 W 3 C) layers at a carburizing temperature of 850 °C. The sample Fe-50WC (850 °C) shows enhanced hardness and highest wear resistance with a lowest specific wear rate (10 −7 mm 3 /Nm) as compared to the as-electrodeposited Fe−W alloy and other Fe−W, Co−W, and hard chromium coatings reported in the literature. The present strategy can be applied to develop alternative, low cost, and environmentally friendly W-based composite coatings to replace the toxic chromium coatings.